Side stake construction for railway flat cars



United States Patent al 88 33 55 00 N I We Sn DEW T HM BS 97 56 99 [.16&1 57 0000 6 95 1.3

[72] Inventors Jan D. Holt:

Duane V. Thornton, St. Charles. Mo.

Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A.Bertsch Atmrne rEugene N. Riddle acorporam" Jersey ABSTRACT: A sidestake structure for a railway flat car including a side stake anchoredto a stake pocket and movable to a plurality of positions about thestake pocket for a variety [54] SIDE STAKE CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY ofselected uses. When desired to restrain loads on the flat car FLAT CARS60am, 8 Drawing Figs. against sidewise movement. the side stake is a.tfnww bW 00 e m ndee OC V nh m 0 r d t g vertical direction in the normalmanner. When port loads on the deck of a car, the side stake pivot meansto a horizontal position extendin the deck of the car to support loadsthereon above the deck. 391 When desired to guide the tires of roadwayvehicles, pivot means permit the side stakes to be folded on the deck toa horizontal position longitudinally of the deck of the car to aid W m mm C Mn 5 m: a m: m m R mmh m Mme "Us l W d end I 0. Uhr. ill I 2 0 6 5555 [ll l UNITED STATES PATENTS in guiding the wheels of roadway vehicles.A modification permits the side stake to form a continuation of the decksu rface in a collapsed position thereby providing a flush deck flatcar.

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SHEET 6 BF 7 PATENTED BEEZQIBYD PATENTEU [150291970 3550537 sum 7 [IF 7SIDE STAKE CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTIONOF INVENTION Heretofore, vertically retractable side stakes have beenprovided with means to permit folding of the side stakes to a retractedhorizontal position extending longitudinally of the car alongside thedeck or recessed in the deck. Such prior side stakes have not beenadapted for folding onto the deck in a transverse direction forsupporting loads at a height above the deck or in alongitudinal'direction to guide the tires of roadway vehicles and thelike;

The present invention provides a side stake mounted in a stake pocketand foldable onto the deck while remaining anchored to the stake pocket.Means mount the side stake for folding onto the upper surface of thedeck in a direction transversely of the car and projecting about 6inches above the deck surface to support loads thereon at a height abovethe deck. If the railway car is adapted for TOFC service and hascollapsible hitches mounted on the deck for securing the kingpins oftrailers, the loads will be supported at a height above the collapsedhitches on the deck of the flat car.

When the flat car is adapted for carrying trailers, the side stakes arefolded ontothe upper surface of the deck in a longitudinal directionalong a side of the car with adjacent side stakes being in end-to-endabutting relation to provide a continuous guide rail structure extendingthe length of the deck.

If desired, the deck may be recessed adjacent the side stakes to receivethe side stakes in a retracted position with the side stakes forming acontinuation of the deck surface. Also, the side stakes may be pivotedoutwardly of the car to provide a bridge for loading and unloadingladings.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possibleembodimentsof the invention are illustrated,

' FIG. 1 is a top plan of a railway flat car embodying'the presentinvention with one-half the length of the railway car being illustrated;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the railway flat car illustrated in FIG.1; a x

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the railway flat car shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating various positions of the side stakestructure comprising the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the side stake structure comprising thepresent inventionjnzwhich two positions of the side stake structure areillustrated;

FIG. 5 is a plan illustrating the side stake structure of FIGS. 3 and 4in a position extending outwardly from the flat car to provide abridging support for loading and unloading ladings;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective of a modified side stake structurewhich in a collapsed position forms a continuation of the deck surfaceto provide a flush deck;

FIG. 7 is a plan of'an additional modification in which the side stakeis of a length generally the same as the width of the railway flatcar;and

FIG. 8 is a perspective of a further modification in which a track isarranged in a' wall of the side stake structure to receive a tiedownmechanism or the like.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding and moreparticularly" to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. a railway flatcar is generally indicated 10 and has an upper deck plate 12 thereon. Acenter sill structure 14 extends longitudinally of car 10 and a bolsterstructure 16 is arranged adjacent each end of car 10. A side sillstructure generally indicated 18 extends longitudinally along each sideof the car and includesan outer angle shaped sill member 20 and an innerside member 22. Angle-shaped outer member 20 includes an outer verticalleg 24 and an upper horizontal leg 26 underlapping deck plate 12 andsecured thereto. Inner sill member 22 includes a vertical web 28extending downwar from the underside of deck plate 12 and an outwardlyturr lower horizontal flange 30.

Spaced along the length of deck plate 12 and side sill strl ture 18 area plurality of spaced openings or cutouts 32. sleeve generally indicated34 is positioned within each cutr 32. Each sleeve 34 comprises achannel-shaped member h ing an outer plate member 36 and a pair oftransverse webs extending between plate member 36 and the adjacent facevertical web 28. Sleeve 34 forms with vertical web 28 a sti pocketadapted to receive the side stake structure generr indicated 40 thereinand comprising the present inventi Side stake structure 40 includes ananchor portion 42 hav an upper loop or link 44 and a lower retainerplate 46 adap to engage the lower edge of sleeve 34 and limit the upw.movement of link 44. Side stake 48 has a lower link 50in gagement withlink 44 to anchor the lower end of stake while permitting stake 48 tomove in a generally horizor plane 360. The outer end of side stake 48has an outwar extending retaining tab 52 adapted to fit within anopening in deck plate 12 when extending longitudinally of car 10 z tofit within opening 56in deck plate 12 when extending tra versely of car10 as shown in FIG. 3.

Side stakes 48 are of a length approximately one-half width of deckplate 12 and may be aligned on the upper 5 face of deck plate 12 in agenerally end-to-end relation to p vide a guide rail for the wheels ofroadway vehicles, such trailers and tractors. To support ladings, sidestake 48 may moved manually to a position extending transversely of theas shown in FIG. 3 and ladings, such as banded lumber, rr be placedthereon. Side stakes 48 may be positioned in a ve cal position, ifdesired, to restrain the lateral movement ladings or the like. Referringto FIG. 5, a loading dock D is dicated schematically and, side stakes 48extend outwar from deck 12 between flat car 10 and loading dock D to pvide a bridging support between loading dock D and flat 10 for theloading and unloading of lading." The connect provided between links 44and 50 permits a generally pivt movement of side stake 48 to any ofthese positions.

Referring to FIG. 6, a modified arrangement is illustratet which deckplate 12A terminates laterally at vertical web 2 of side sill member22A. A lower flange 18A of sill mem 22A extends outwardly from verticalweb 28A. A sleeve stake pocket comprises a channel-shaped member 3secured to the outer face of vertical web 28A and extend outwardlytherefrom. Channel-shaped member 34A,'incluflanges 60 and 62-connectedby web 64. Flange 62 has upper end portion cutout at 66 and anangle-shaped ledge secured thereto below cutout portion 66. A loop-shatsleeve 70 is secured to the outer surface of flange 60 to rece retainingtab 52A of side stake 48A when stake 48A is in a c lapsed position asshown in FIG. 6. Links 44A and 50A identical to links 44 and 50 in theembodiment of FIGS. 1- and permit a generally pivotal movement of sidestake 48A collapsed position, the lower side of side stake 48A is s\ported on ledge 68 and the upper side of side stake 48A for acontinuation of deck plate 12A to provide a so-called fll deck flat car.

Referring to FIG. 7, side stakes 488 which extend the wi of deck 12B areillustrated. Additional side stake pockets may be provided to receiveremovable side stakes, if desir Side stakes 488 may be positioned ondeck plate 12B i direction extending longitudinally of railway car 10Aalt the sides thereof to provide guide rails for roadway vehi wheels andthe like. Links 44B and 50B connect side sta 488 for pivotal movement ina generally horizontal plane.

FIG. 8 discloses an embodiment in which side stake 48C a track orguideway 72 in upper side wall 74 adapted receive a tiedown structure(not shown) therein. The tiedo structure may be adjusted lengthwise ofdeck 12C alt guideway 72.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several obje of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous rest obtained. I

I claim:

l. A railway flat car comprising, a relatively flat deck. a plurality ofspaced stake pockets extending along each side of said deck, a sidestake structure for each stake pocket, each side stake structureincluding an elongate side stake, anchor means within the associatedstake pocket to prevent removal of the side stake from the flat car, andmeans connecting the side stake to the anchor means to permit a foldingof said side stake in horizontal directions longitudinally of the carand transversely of the car, said side stake when folded to a positiontransversely of the car being supported on the deck and extending in adirection transversely of the deck to support loads thereon above thesurface of the deck, said side stake when folded in a directionlongitudinally of the car being supported on the upper surface of thedeck and projecting upwardly therefrom, a plurality of said side stakesalong a side of the car being in generally end-to-end relation whenfolded in a direction extending longitudinally of the car and forming acontinuous rail like member extending the length of the car to provide aguide for the wheels of roadway vehicles moving along the deck of thecar.

2. In a railway flat car having a generally flat deck, a side sillstructure along each side of the deck forming a continuation of the decksurface thereby not to obstruct the deck, a plurality of openings spacedlongitudinally along the length of each side sill structure, a generallyvertically extending elongate side stake mounted in each of theopenings, anchor means securing the side stakes within the openings andpermitting folding of the side stakes from an erect vertical position tocollapsed positions on the upper surface of the deck in which thelongitudinal axes of the stakes extend longitudinally and transverselyof the car, said side stakes when folded to a position extendingtransversely of the car being adapted to support ladings thereon, saidside stakes when folded longitudinally of the deck being in end-to-endrelation along each side of the deck and projecting upwardly therefromto provide a guide for the wheels of roadway vehicles moving along thedeck of the flat car.

3. A railway flat car comprising, a relatively flat deck, a plurality ofspaced stake pocket structures extending along each directiontransversely of the decktosupport loads thereci above the surface of thedeck, said connecting means between the side stake and the stake pocketstructure providing a limited vertical movement of the side stakerelative to the stake pocket structure and permitting folding of theassociated side stake to a horizontal position extending longitudinallyof the deck.

4. A railway flat car as set forth in claim 3 said side stake being of alength to extendfacross substantially the entire width of the deck whenfolded on the deck.

5. A railway flat car as set forth in claim 3, said side stake being ofa length to extend across around one-half of the width of the deck whenthe stake is folded to a horizontal position on the deck, the sidestakes on one side of the flat car cooperating with the side stakes onthe other side of the car to provide-a lading support acrosssubstantially the entire width of the car.

6. A railway flat car comprising, a relatively flat deck, a stake pocketstructure adjacent a side of said deck,- an elongated side stake for thestake pocket structure, means connecting the side stake to the stakepocket structure to prevent. removal of the side stake from the flat carand to permit folding of said side stake in horizontal directionslongitudinally of the car and transversely of the car, said connectingmeans between the side stake and the stake pocket structure providing alimited vertical movement of the side stake relative to the stake pocketstructure, said sidestake when foldedto a position transversely ofthecar beingsupported on the deck and extending in a direction transverselyof the deck to support loads thereon above the surface of the deck, andmeans adjacent the stake pocket structure receiving the side stake in aretracted position not obstructing the deck when the stake is foldedlongitudinally of the car,

um'rm) s'm'rr cs PATENT OFFICE CEjl-i 'll[*ICA'lE 0 i (.10 R R E 'ITIONDated December 29, 1970 Patent No. 3 5:30 37 Jan I). Holt et al.

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2 should appear as shown below:

..- member 22 includes web 28 extending downwardly fromthe underside o;no

and an outwardly turned lowerhorizontal flange 30.

Spaced along the length of deck plate 12 and side structure 18 are aplurality of spaced openings or cutouts 32 sleeve generally indicated 3is positioned within each cutou Each sleeve 34 comprises achannel-shaped member having an ou member 36 and a pair oi transversewebs 38 extending be plate member 36 and the adjacent face of verticalweb 28.

forms with vertical web 28 a stake pocket adapted to recei the sidestake structure generally indie ted 50 therein and comprising thepresent invention. Side stake structure -0 in cludes an anchor portion2-2 having an upper loop or link i ia a lower retainer plate 36 adaptedto engage the lower edge of sleeve 3 and limit the upward movement oflink l- Side stai .11 has a lower link 50 in engagement with link 3 toanchor t1 lower end 01" stake 1-8 while permitting, stake 48 to move ina generally horizontal plane three hundred and sixty degrees (3% Theouter end of side stake &8 has an outwardly extending: re

to fit within an opening; 5 1 in deck pl:

12 when extending; longitudinally of car 10 and to fit \ulllilii;

opening; 56 in deck plate 12 when esatendinr: transversely oi ca:

i uNl'mn szwms m'rm'r owuzv: l CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION December 29,1970 Patent No. 5 Dated Jan I. Holt. ct a1. mm: z

Inventot(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as Shown below:

5 side stakes b3 are of a length approximately cnc hnlx 3.. a {theHlflth of neck place 12 non may no aligned on too upper eurzece :05 deckplate 12 in a generally end-to-end relation to provide a :4- a .p. I" 1-bULhQ 4311 or toe Lncels o1 roeuuay VQfliClGS, one; as roller:

' a l n one tractors. To sunport ledenge, ice shake he nay he LOVEMmanually to a position extending transversely of inc car as nncwn inFigure 3 and ladings, such as canned lumber, may no placed thereon. Sidestakes E8 may be positioned in a vertical position,

J .6 .l .A. I. 1. J. ceslrec, to restrain tee lcceral movenenv olleelngs o: .n:

like. Referring to Figure 5,-a loading dock D is indicated .oc 1schemetlcally ano slne svakcs 43 eztenn ou.naruly n cech L2 between fleecar 10 and loading dock D to provide e brifiging support between loadingdock D and flat car 10 for t.e loading and unloading of lading. Theconnection provided between 1; l-

and 50 permits a generely pivotal movement of side stake 8 to any ofthese positions.

Referring to Figure 5, e modified arrangement is illustrated innhich.deck plate lA.terminates lateeelly at vertical web 28A 6% eldesill mcnber 22A. A lower flange 13A of s a 1 n sill member 22A extencsoutwardly :rom vcrclcnl nen 20A. a sleeve or stake pocket ccmpriscs.cchannel-shaped member ERA secure to the outer face of vertical web 235and extending ouuc-dly choreu Q o l q o a f from. Cnenncle open manner3&5 incluces LlSBZCE o0 one :2

connected by web 6h. Flange 62 has its upper end portion cutout at 53and an angle-shaped ledge 68 secured thereto below cutout UNl'lliI')s'm'ms IA'IEN'I ()FFKIF, CEli/HF[GATE OI! (IOIiRiiXTITION Patent 3 550537 Dated December 20, 1970 Jan n. Holt ct a1 PAGE 3 Inventor(s) It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' portion Go. A loop-shaped ..-leeve "(O is secured to the outer x C .2A s. i. .n n H ecc- 0.1. flan e e0 to receive retaining too 525. OJ.site .2 cake f a, J. 1. F. .Le. S\JQ; C Lo)"; if. in a collapsedQOEltlOn e snown 1.;. Fi ule t r I, A 1 w..- i.-. .M- L -A and or. (lie.LelOko reel to links &4- ani )0 i L t.". emit of tide is supported onledge 63 and the upper side stake -5-81: forms a continuation of deckplate 12A to provide a celled flusn deck flat car.

Referring to Figure 7, side stakes the rzidtn of deck' 12B areillustrated. Additional side stake noclcets (1 be provided to receiveremovable side stakes, 1

. w desired. Side stakes i-SB may be positioned on deck plate 12o a a I}a direction extending longitudinally of railway car. iO.. al

in t'te sides thereof to provide guiee rails for roadway VGhlC .G

r4. wheels and the like. Links l- 'rB and 50B connect side stakes H fornivotel movement in a generally norizontal plane UNI'IED S'.I/\." i-1faIA'IIIN'I OFFICE".

(llfili'il'FICATEC ()F CORRECTION patent 3 550 537 Dated December 291970 Inventor) Jan I). Holt ct a] PAGI'; 4

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Figure 8 discloses an embodiment in which side stale LBC has a track orguicleway 2 in upper side wall '7 adapted receive a tie clown structure(not Shown) tlierein. The tie-cio3 structure may be adjustedlengtlu-zise of deck. 120 along; gutZ-Jcrr:

In view of the above, it will be. seen chat the save] objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

